Libby Robinson

The next generation Carbon capture and storage projects are starting to be delivered . 41 are already live, and 350+ more are on the way. From Norway’s Northern Lights project to the UK’s East Coast Cluster, entire regions are building networks that connect emitters directly to storage. The technology has matured too, with membranes, MOFs, and direct air capture moving from labs into real-world deployment. It is fantastic to see the shift in tone: less discussion and increasingly more delivery. We’re watching CCS move from “someday” to “here and now”. Take a look here: https://lnkd.in/eKr74AjN

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I recently sat down with Genevieve Redgrave at Environmental Finance to discuss the expansion of the UK’s emissions trading scheme and how this is a strong compliance signal that can unlock finance for carbon removal technologies. With widespread removals being recognised by science as necessary to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, growing demand and building a high-integrity market is key. Here is where carbon markets play a key role, supporting nature-based methods for immediate action whilst accelerating emerging CDR technology innovation - complementary solutions we need to scale to reach global net-zero. Read the full article here https://lnkd.in/eEEBigyS #CDR #UKETS #Decarbonisation #NetZero #ClimateAction #CarbonMarkets thanks to Valentina Ortis for the amazing work

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Where are heat pumps installed in the UK? A new peer-reviewed study in Energy Policy shows that heat pumps are spreading very unevenly across the UK, despite a decade of adoption subsidies. The research uses spatial analysis to track where uptake concentrates and why. The findings are striking: early-adopting local areas tend to benefit from a blend of more readily adaptable housing, stronger low‑carbon skills among local workforces, and established supply chains. The study also uncovers robust evidence of spatial spillovers (“contagion” effects) where for every three heat pumps installed in one area, roughly one additional installation follows in a neighbouring area with less favourable conditions. This raises an important policy dilemma for decarbonising heat: should policymakers prioritise effectiveness by reinforcing momentum in early‑adopting areas, harnessing spillovers and scaling supply chains more quickly? Or should they focus on equity by directing more support toward later adopters and regions facing tougher starting conditions to avoid deepening regional disparities? The answer likely lies in a balanced, place‑based approach: pairing national incentives with local capability building, targeted training for installers, stronger regional supply chains, and tailored support for harder‑to‑retrofit homes, designed to leverage diffusion dynamics while widening access. The paper is written by Theodoros Arvanitopoulos at Cardiff Business School and The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Charlie Wilson at the Environmental Change Institute (ECI), University of Oxford and Craig Morton at Loughborough University. For more details and visuals read the Energy Policy article here: https://lnkd.in/etFdqFyC

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Is the UK Paying Too Much for a Greener Future? It seems I’m always discussing this subject, but I want to be clear: I am in favour of reducing the use of hydrocarbons, just not at any cost and not without a coherent plan. I support doing so in a sensible, sustainable way. But what I am not in favour of is making decisions that have little to no meaningful global impact, while sacrificing UK jobs, UK economic value, UK regional energy security, and the UK ending up reliant on third-party hydrocarbons that are more carbon-intensive, less regulated, and often more expensive. All while UK costs at home continue to rise. Reuters reported this week that the UK government has increased the price it will pay for fixed-bottom offshore wind by 11 percent, to £81 per megawatt-hour. For floating offshore wind, the price rises to £194. These figures aren’t the result of competitive bidding but have been set to encourage companies to participate in the next auction. Last year’s round failed to attract any offshore wind bids, which made clear that previous pricing was just not attractive. The government has also extended the length of these contracts from 15 to 20 years, and the payments will rise with inflation. According to The Financial Times, this reflects rising costs, supply chain issues, and higher interest rates affecting developers. In the short term, these changes may help get projects moving. But there’s a cost. The current wholesale electricity price is about £70 to £75 per megawatt-hour. The government’s new offer is well above that. It’s also far higher than the Climate Change Committee’s 2030 projection of £38 per megawatt-hour, according to FOI requests published on WhatDoTheyKnow. Meanwhile, Ofgem estimates the UK will need to invest £80 billion to upgrade the grid, which could increase household bills by over £100 a year. At the same time, global demand for oil and gas remains strong. Many countries continue to generate revenue from hydrocarbons. The UK, in contrast, is winding down its domestic industry without an obvious replacement strategy. This is striking given the UK has historically led the world in offshore and subsea energy production. Yet now, as that sector is constrained, emerging regions are filling the gap, often with less regulated, more polluting methods. The irony IMHO is that the UK increasingly buys energy back from those same regions, undermining both climate goals and economic resilience. The journey towards ‘Net Zero’ to our leaders in the UK has become so focused on appearing virtuous that any fair or balanced transition is hard to see. We are committing billions to a mainly international based manufacturing industry, to long-term contracts with rising costs and uncertain outcomes. The hope is cleaner, cheaper energy. But for now, the risks are real, the benefits distant, and the public is picking up the bill. Is that just or just plain wrong? #NetZero #EnergyPolicy #OffshoreWind #EnergySecurity #CostOfLiving

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Today’s DESNZ announcement is welcome, but policy certainty is needed for investment. The UK ETS should be incentivising the right economic and environmental outcomes as we transition to a circular economy. To do this, the timeframes must align with the EU and we must implement the recycling legislation that will remove fossil plastics that can be recycled, out of the waste stream. Simpler Recycling, pEPR and a mandatory 50% recycled content threshold will deliver decarbonisation in the most efficient and effective way. We thank DESNZ for their extensive industry engagement on these issues and look forward to continuing working with them to provide further clarity on cost allocation, timelines and emissions measurement. #EmissionsTradingScheme #ETS #PolicyUpdate

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Stunning graphic from Frankie Mayo's latest analysis of the UK's clean power progress. 😥 Spring was exceptionally sunny and not very windy. 😌 Luckily, wind and solar in Britain are complimentary, so higher solar compensated for lower wind. 😲 Only 2% of days in the UK have both low wind and low sunshine, and these can be managed.

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Scotland has everything it needs to win big from the energy transition--a proud industrial heritage, a highly skilled energy workforce, and some of the world’s best renewable resources. But right now, it's largely missing out. Scottish communities are watching renewable energy infrastructure being built but aren't consistently seeing its economic benefits. The North Sea is in irrevocable decline, yet Scotland’s oil and gas workers don't currently have a clear plan for their future in renewables. That’s largely down to a failure of government policy & action, both in Westminster and Holyrood, over many years. We know that energy will be a key concern for voters as at the Holyrood elections in 2026, and it's critical that any debate is focused on how to make energy work for Scotland, so that it benefits workers & communities. The narrow interests of oil & gas companies can’t be allowed to dominate. New drilling will not lower bills or protect workers in the long term, with the number of jobs supported by the industry more than halving in the past decade, despite hundreds of new licences being issued.   Nor is it an answer to energy security – the UK has burned most of its gas and most of the oil is exported. By 2050, the UK will be almost completely reliant on gas imports, even if new oil & gas fields are developed & new licences issued. So the risks and opportunities for the next Scottish Government are huge. With the right policies and commitment to act, we could see: thriving supply chains and thousands of good, secure jobs for workers in domestic wind manufacturing; oil and gas workers supported to move into these jobs; and renewable energy making communities across Scotland wealthier.  Here’s how we think politicians can Make Energy Work for Scotland--our policy proposals for the next Scottish Government: https://lnkd.in/eV-wJVty

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